The 18 Best Curling Irons at Every Price Point

When it comes to curling irons, size (and shape) really does matter. There are small barrels for tighter curls, large barrels for looser ones, and tapered, clipless, motorized, interchangeable wands for just about any curl in between. It's a lot to navigate for sure, but that, dear beauty geeks, is why you have us. No matter what kind of curl you're looking for, or what your budget happens to be, there is a curling iron out there for you. Here are some of our favorites — at every price point.

Don’t let this small, pretty pink number fool you — it has the ability to create bouncy curls without all the damage. Its ceramic tourmaline barrel leaves hair shiny and smooth (as long as you don’t overdo it). The iron handle is actually sold separately, allowing you to switch up your curl look with different barrel options, from a cone wand to a triple barrel option.

For wild, wild waves, look to this styling iron. It has a wavy barrel, allowing you to see exactly how your strands will take shape. First, put your hair into a half-up style, then wrap each section around the barrel. Hold for a few seconds, slowly unravel, and repeat. The thing is, after this is all done, your hair will be super curly — almost like a perm. To a more natural look, shake it out, flip your hair a few times and you’re good to go!

You know how there are a ton of hair products out there that contain argan oil? There’s a really good reason for that. Derived from Moroccan argan trees, it's essential in fatty acids, omega-6 and vitamin E. When combined with infrared heat (like this curling iron), it boosts shine like no other.

These handy irons come in a variety of fun prints (like pink zebra and giraffe) and have a 360-degree swivel base that makes wrapping, turning, and twisting a no-brainer. As for the curls, this flashy tool creates pretty ringlets that brush out into gorgeous frizz-free waves.

The addition of magnesium lends increased heat conductivity and accelerated styling to this affordable iron, which heats to 430 degrees in 90 seconds and maintains a steady and even temperature that's less damaging to your hair.

Okay, so this can get addictive. With an automatic bi-directional rotating control, you can get wavy curls in an instant. The one-inch barrel is great for creating easy, breezy beach waves. Plus, it has an auto shut-off in 60 minutes, so even if you happen to forget hitting the off button, you can rest assured nothing will be burning down anytime soon. Thank goodness!

Yes, it looks like a weapon. And yes, it's completely terrifying the first time you feed your hair into the motorized chamber (will you ever see that piece of hair again?). But when you realize that this nifty tool just did all that curling and wrapping for you — and popped out a perfect spiral in seconds — you'll breathe easy. The curls are pretty tight, though, so run a brush through them for a looser wave.

We'll admit: This wand looks awfully suggestive. But you just have to wrap random pieces of hair around the wand (switching directions with each section) to nail Gisele–style waves. Added bonus: The ceramic iron gives curls more bounce and shine than metal irons do.

First of all, how cool is the iridescent color of this hot tool? Good news: It works as good as it looks, too. Made of 100 percent titanium, the wand uses infrared heat technology which is gentler on hair. It’s also clip-less and creates crease-free curls.

Because the heated rod is positioned at an ergonomic right angle, the acrobatics required to curl your own hair are substantially lowered, making styling really easy and comfortable. Another bonus feature: An optional 30-second timer that buzzes, eliminating the need for counting in your head.

This styler requires you to carefully cross-stitch your hair between the two (super hot) barrels. But once you get the hang of it, it's a quick way to gorgeous loose curls. Hairstylist Mark Townsend swears by the tool, which after years of being off the market, was finally re-released. Take note, though: If you scoop this up for yourself,
you might want to hold on to — and actually wear — the glove that comes inside the box.

Dual ceramic heating plates mean your hair gets warmed on both sides, which is probably why the curls from this iron really do last longer than some we've tried. The rotating clamp eases the stress on your wrist and shoulder as you work.

Similar to the Conair Infiniti Pro Curl Secret shown above, it may take some time to get used to working this outlandish-looking hair tool if you haven’t done so already. More natural curls are possible with three directional curl control features and it only takes a second to heat up, so you’ll be curling away in no time!

This one does it all. With a one and a quarter-inch barrel on one side and a detachable spring-free marcel clip on the other, you can achieve loose, wavy locks to tight curls. The barrel is made from nano-ceramic and tourmaline which releases negative ions. Translation: smooth hair! It also comes with a heat-resistant glove and barrel pouch. Totally worth the splurge.

Enough with the manual winding and twisting; this iron does all that annoying work for you. The push of a button spins the barrel toward your scalp with close to zero effort. Just make sure you release the clamp before you reach your scalp to avoid sausage curls and second-degree burns.